Tin Can Lantern DIY

I’ve been wanting to make one of these tin can lanterns for a while now, but I was always slightly intimidated by the project because it seemed a little bit difficult. I was wrong – this DIY is way easier than I thought it would be and the tin can lanterns are a beautiful way to light up your room or add something special to an outdoor space or summer party.

What you need: a tin can (I used a coffee can, but you could make smaller versions using soup cans too), a screwdriver and hammer.

Fill the empty can with water and freeze it. You definitely want the water to be completely frozen so I recommend leaving it overnight. The reason for this is so that when you hammer the holes into the can, it doesn’t get dented and lose its shape – having the solid ice also makes it easier to make the holes.

Secure the can – I just placed it between my feet and it worked perfectly – and hammer the screwdriver into the can where you want the holes to be. You can make holes randomly or follow a pattern, whatever you want!

When you’re finished making the holes, place the can in a sink or tub where it can thaw and empty out the ice/water.

I love the idea of doing this with a bunch of cool looking vintage tins. But if you don’t like the exterior of your can, you can paint it a solid color – I decided to paint mine green.

The lantern is now ready to use! Place a candle inside and put it in a dark place to create magic :)